Knock down metal container



May 6, 1958 A. N. WEDDING ET AL 2,833,087

KNocK DowN METAL CONTAINER Filed Jan. 17, 1956 waff/@$552155 ATTE RN EYE United States Patent O 2,833,087 KNoCK DOWN METAL CoNTAJNER Arthur N. Wedding, Mountain Home, Ark., and Walter H. Benson, Tinley Park, Ill.

Application January 17, 1956, Serial No. 559,624

' 1 claim. (ci. 47V37) This invention relates to containers for small plants, such as flowers, shrubbery and trees, for use in nurseries, and in particular a container having a cylindrical wall formed with a metal plate having lap joints at the ends and having a bottom with an annular downwardly sloping flange on the upper edge of an inclined wall positioned in the lower part of the container and with the flange resting upon lobes struck from the wall of the container and extended inwardly to receive the flange.

The purpose of this inventoin is to provide an inexpensive container for small and large plants, such as trees in which parts thereof may be shipped at and readily assembled for use and also in which the parts may be taken apart and reused so that quantities of plants may be shipped in individual containers and the containers re turned. v

Plants are shipped by nurseries in containers referred to as one, ve, ten, and fifteen gallon containers and as the weight of the plant and soil in a large container is in excess of 300 pounds it is essential that the bottom be supported so that it will not draw the lower end of the Wall of the container inwardly or push the wall outwardly. With the bottom extending continuously across the container the weight of the material therein causes the bottom to bow downwardly drawing the lower edge of the wall inwardly and with the bottom bowed upwardly the weight of the soil forces the edges outwardly spreading the lower edge of the container. With this thought in mind this invention contemplates a container having an interlocking or lap joint in the Wall and a bottom in which a continuous flange on the peripheral edge of the bottom rests upon lobes or tongues extended inwardly from the side walls so that the tendency of the bottom to draw the walls inwardly or push the walls outwardly is eliminated.

The object of this invention, is therefore, to provide an improved container for plants and the like in which the parts are readily assembled and readily taken apart and in which the bottom is mounted in the wall of the container so that the load of dirt, soil, or plants therein exerts a straiht downward force on the wall overcoming the tendency of the wall to spread or contract.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container for shipping plants in which the container may readily be assembled and taken apart by the average layman.

A further object of the invention is to provide a shipping container for plaints and the like in which the container is of a simple and economical construction.

With these and other objects and advantages in view the invention embodies a sheet of material having U- shaped flanges on the ends with the ilanges positioned to interlock and with locking elements struck from the ilanges and a bottom having a frustro-conical shaped Wall with a downwardly sloping flange on the peripheral edge of the wall in which the flange is positioned to rest upon lobes extended inwardly from openings of the wallA Other features and advantages of the invention will Patented May 6, 1958 appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 isa yside elevational view showing the im proved container.

Figure 2 is a vertical section through the container taken on line 2-2 of Fig. l with the parts shown on an enlarged scale.

Figure 3 is a sectional plan through the containertaken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2, with the parts shown on 1a reduced scale.

Figure 4 is a cross section through the joint at the ends of the wall of the container, said section Abeing taken on line 4-4 of Fig. V1 and the parts being shown on an enlarged scale, `and with vthe joint in the open. position.

Figure 5 is a cross section similar to that-shownjn Fig. 4 showing the overlapping elements of the joint connecting the ends of the wall of the container with the parts locked.

Figure 6 is a cross section through a portion of the Wall of the container taken on line 6 6 of Fig. 4 showing one of the locking elements of the overlapping anges of the wall of the container.

Figure 7 is an elevational view looking toward the locking element shown in Fig. 6.

Referring now to the drawing wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts the improved knock down container of this invention includes a sheet of material 10 adapted to form the wall of the container with a ilange 11 on one end of the wall and having a locking velement 12 therein and a flange 13 on the opposite end and having a coacting locking element 14 therein, and a bottom 15 having a frusto-conical shaped wall 16 and .an annular flange 17 extended from the edge of the wall and positioned to rest upon lobes 18 struck `from the wall.

The wall of the container is formed with a plate or sheet of metal, the ends of which arevbent over as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 forming U-shaped sections with a ilange 11 on one edge and a flange 13 on the opposite edge and the locking elements 12 and 14 are stamped from openings 19 and 20 `in the flanges 11 and 13, respectively. With the parts 12 and 14 positioned in registering relation one part snaps over the other as the overlapping flanges 11 and 13 are drawn together whereby it is substantially impossible to separate the edges of the wall without sliding one end longitudinally in relation to the other.

The lobes 18 are struck from openings 21 in the lower edge of the plate, theopenings providing drain holes and the lobes 18 providing supporting means for the bottom 15. The bottom 15 is also provided with drain holes as indicated by the numeral 22.

With the ends of the plate 10 secured together as illustrated in Fig. 5, the bottom 15 `is dropped into the container and the container is ready for use. By this means the container is assembled without screws, bolts, or other fastening elements and after use the bottom and wall of the container may readily be separated and the plates forming the wall returned to a flat position for storing and shipping.

Although the parts are preferably formed of metal it will be understood that the container may be formed of other suitable material.

In use the bottom is dropped upon the lobes or flaps 18 wherein the lower surface of the bottom 15 is spaced slightly above the upper surface of a table or bench upon which the container is positioned and with weight applied to the bottom, such as in lling the container with soil positioned around plants and the like there is sutlicient give in the bottom to carry the lower surface downwardly upon the surface of the table top or the like whereby the weight is readily carried by the particular construction of the container.

In -a shipping container for `plants,'jsllrublieifyd", and trees `the combination which comprisesa sheet ofmaterialhavi ing sections, U-,shaped in cross section and having locking -elements therein positioned on Opposite end`s thereof, said -wall having radially disposed lobes struck from openings in the lower part thereof andsaid lobes being inclined inwardly and upwardly,` said `locking elements of the U-shaped sections beingpositioned in overlappinganges of said sections, and the locking elements being struck from `the flanges and positioned in registering relation `whereby the elements .struck from one ange are positioned to engage the elements struck from the other flange, and a bottom provided vwith drain openings therein and having a frustoconical shaped wall with a downwardly and outwardly inclined peripheral ange positioned in the lower part of the container and with the ange resting upon and conforming to the inclination of the lobes.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 566,647 Bauman Aug. 25, 1896 786,605 Schmalz Apr. 4, 1905 1,061,297 Johnson May 13, 1913 1,115,375 Bachowski et al. Q- Oct. 27, 1914 1,204,744 Cohn Nov. 14, 1916 1,453,824 Bauer May 1, 1923 1,521,414 Arcaro Dec. 30, 1924 2,112,670 Henchert Mar, 29, 1938 Y FOREIGN PATENTS 24,959 Great Britain 1911 151,224 1920 Great Britain Sept. 23, 

